Having a fire in your home or business is scary. However, once the fire is put out, it’s time to think about fire damage restoration for your home or business. You may be wondering if the damages your structures have sustained are covered by your insurance. Most homeowners insurance policies cover damages and contents under a general policy, however there are exceptions. Your insurance policy will contain all the information about your coverage. In order to understand what the policy language actually means, contact your insurance broker or give your insurance provider a direct call. They will be able to tell you what your policy covers and what not. That being said, here are some basics to know about what insurance may cover for fire damaged structures.

What Does General Liability Insurance Cover for Homes?

For homes specifically, general liability insurance usually covers three basic areas: dwellings, structure, and personal items.

1. Dwelling coverage

Dwelling coverage typically means fixing or replacing structures that were damaged by the fire. If you are unable to live in your home while damages are being fixed, many times homeowners insurance will cover the cost of a hotel stay and restaurant bills for a period of time.

2. Structure coverage

The second area that is usually covered with liability insurance is detached structure coverage. Detached structures can mean a garage or shed that are on the property that is insured, but not attached physically to the main home.

3. Personal items coverage

The third area that is usually covered for homes is personal items coverage. Most insurance policies cover the cost to replace or repair the loss of personal items, appliances and even landscaping (e.g. specific shrubs or trees) due to a fire.

Home vs. Business Fire Liability Insurance Coverage

For most businesses, general liability insurance is similar to homeowners policies for fire damage. One of the main differences between fire coverage for homeowners vs. businesses is that it can also include coverage and cost to replace or repair damaged items that belong to a client. Business coverage can also cover costs related to employees, clients or even third party injuries due to the fire.

For both homeowners and business fire damage insurance, coverage may be relinquished if a fire is intentionally started by the homeowners or business owners. Also, for most insurance companies, coverage does not include fires caused by acts of war. As with most things, insurance companies and the coverage they offer are not always equal. As a good rule of thumb, it’s best to check with your insurance company or refer to your individual policy for details about fire damage coverage.

Call the Fire Damage Experts at Dry Kings Today

Need more information or tips on where to start with your fire damage restoration? Call your fire damage experts today! We are here to help you in each step of the restoration process and get you back to where you want to be. Call Dry Kings Restoration at 415-877-9611 today for more information.